A new beach wheelchair is now available for hire, free of charge, at Cabarita Beach Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC).
Bogangar’s Sam Ford, 20, was delighted to demonstrate the new wheelchair at a launch this week at the club, officiated by Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Barry Longland.
Sam became disabled after suffering brain damage following an assault in Coolangatta in October 2009.
His father, Michael Ford, said Sam was a ‘beach boy’ who loved the surf and would be a regular user of the free facility. Although he has been to the beach since his accident, he had to be carried.
“It’s fantastic that the wheelchair is now available at Cabarita and it’s easy to use,” Mr Ford said.
“We had it in the water up to its wheels the other day when Sam was taken down to the beach by a couple of his mates. It will make life a whole lot nicer for him,” he said.
The beach wheelchair was purchased by Tweed Shire Council through Council’s Equal Access Advisory Committee, who also provided funds to assist with a small renovation at the club to make the chair easily available to the public.
The Equal Access Advisory Committee advises Council on issues affecting access and inclusion by providing a forum to address public access issues raised by the community.
“People with disabilities like Sam and frail older people visiting Cabarita beach will now be able to get down onto the beach and to the water’s edge to be with their family and friends,” Councillor Longland said.
“Cabarita Surf Life Saving Club President Patrick Raftery and the club’s board have been very supportive of the project and are keen to provide access to the beach for people who need this mobility aid.”
For booking enquiries and information about the beach wheel chair at Cabarita, please phone Tweed Shire Council’s Aged and Disability Development Officer on (02) 6670 2442, Monday to Friday or Cabarita Beach SLSC on (02) 6676 1551 from Thursday to Sunday.
Information on how to book the wheelchair and a podcast demonstrating how to use it will be available soon on Council’s website www.tweed.nsw.gov.au
A Council beach wheelchair is also available at Pottsville South Tourist Park. Contact park managers on (02) 6676 1050 or Council on (02) 6670 2442 for bookings. The council is currently looking to relocate the third wheel-chair currently located at Kingscliff but not in use due to the recent erosion.
